Being Non-Binary In RecoveryBeing Non-Binary In Recovery
Peji's Recovery Corner
Jordie Ramos shares their experience of alcoholism, trauma, gender identity and recovery, from blackout drinking and self-harm to stable sobriety and self-acceptance. Pej and Jordie talk frankly about being non-binary in recovery spaces, inclusive sober housing, and finding community in both work and fellowship.
42:57•8 Sept 2021
Being Non-Binary and Sober: Jordie’s Journey from Blackouts to Belonging
Episode Overview
- Alcohol use can shift slowly from weekend fun to round-the-clock blackout drinking, especially when used to numb deep pain and abandonment.
- Childhood abuse and strict, punitive parenting can fuel fear, shame and self-harm, but therapy and honest sharing help loosen that grip.
- Gender expression and identity, including being non-binary and using she pronouns, can coexist with solid recovery and meaningful work.
- Inclusive treatment centres and sober livings that accept non-binary and transgender people without judgement are vital for their safety and success.
- Strong fellowship, a trusted sponsor, and supportive family relationships can transform relapse and homelessness into lasting sobriety and self-acceptance.
“"I didn’t want to kill myself, but I didn’t want to live."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation on Peji's Recovery Corner follows Jordie Ramos, a non-binary alcoholic who’s been sober since 27 October 2019, as they share how drinking, trauma, gender identity and healing all became tangled together. Growing up between Ventura County and the San Fernando Valley in a strict, often abusive home, Jordie talks about feeling constantly afraid and out of place.
Childhood sexual abuse, being kicked out at 16, and a deep sense of abandonment left them cutting and later reaching for vodka "to blackout" just to avoid feeling anything. Weekends of fun drinking slowly turned into "drinking 24/7" and waking up in strangers’ houses, on pavements, or in puddles of their own urine at home. Jordie also opens up about finding language and expression for their gender, saying they "always knew" they were different.
Theatre, makeup, and online creators helped them feel brave enough to embrace acrylic nails, bold hair, and a chameleon-like style, while still working in assisted living with elderly residents who often cheer on their latest hair colour. Pej and Jordie walk through relapse, treatment, sober living and the reality of being non-binary in recovery spaces.
There’s honest talk about discrimination in housing, the value of truly inclusive sober livings, and how a strong fellowship, therapy, and a supportive father shifted everything.
Jordie sums up their mission simply: to show others in the LGBTQ+ community that "you can get sober" and that the right people "will love you no matter what." If you’ve ever felt too different, too broken, or too scared to try sobriety, this story offers a gentle challenge: what if you’re exactly the kind of person recovery was made for?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.